Seniors Lead Gulls to Victory in Final Regular Season Home Game

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior Christina Vellucci (Saugus, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season after being honored as part of Senior Day festivities and it ended up as the game-winner for the Gulls, who defeated Salve Regina 3-1 on Saturday in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's soccer action at Endicott Stadium.

Vellucci was one of seven Endicott seniors recognized before the game and one of three of those seniors who went out and tallied goals for the Gulls, who improve to 10-5-2 (6-1-1 CCC).

In addition to Vellucci, Endicott honored a senior class that included Vanessa Caruccio (Winthrop, Mass.), Micaela Hogan (Salisbury, Mass.), Lauren Todd (Newfields, N.H.), Caitlin Peters (Salem, N.H.), Christine Silva (Stoneham, Mass.) and Chelsea Garlock (Meriden, Conn.).

Caruccio got the Gulls on the board just over a minute into the game. She corralled a pass from classmate Hogan and netted her fourth goal of the season. For Hogan, the helper was her first of the year.

The Gulls took that 1-0 lead to the halftime break, then wasted no time adding to their advantage. Vellucci streaked down the left side of the field and floated a beautiful shot into the far top corner of the net in the 48^th minute.

The Gulls threatened continuously in the second half, outshotting their opponents 10-5 and having a 3-0 edge in corner kicks in the frame. Hogan had several chances to widen the gap even further but had a blast turned aside by junior goalie Jacqueline McPherson (Mansfield, Mass.).

Garlock capped the Endicott scoring in the 85^th minute with another brilliant strike, started by a great feed from freshman Laura Wysocki (Somers, Conn.). Wysocki, just into the game as a substitute, played Garlock into open space and the senior netted her fifth goal of the year, tucking the ball high inside the far post and earning Wysocki her first points of the year with the assist.

The visitors added a late goal to prevent sophomore goalie Katie Donnelly (Madison, Conn.) and the Gulls from posting another shutout. With under four minutes to play, graduate student Caitlin Eastwood (Seymour, Conn.) was able to knock in a goal off a free kick delivered by Jessica Broadhurst (Scarborough, Maine).

Donnelly made just one save, while McPherson had six stops in a losing effort for the Seahawks.

Endicott improves their program record against the Seahawks to 17-1-1 and avenge their only loss in the all-time series, a 3-2 Salve Regina win in Newport last season.

The Gulls travel to Boston on Wednesday night for their final regular season game. Endicott will take on the Leopards of Wentworth at 7:00 pm.

Salve Regina has their final contest of the 2012 regular season at home, as they will entertain Nichols in Newport at 3:30 that same afternoon.